Floor construction



March 28, 1933. .1. R. BOWMAN FLOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed March 6, 1931 INVENTOR. J @559 IE. Bow/n an ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 28, 1933 mssn R. BOWMAN, on ivnwnunvron'r, MASSACHUSETTS f moon oons'rnuorron Application filed March 6,

This invention relates to a plastic 'floor construction and to a method ofmaking the same. 7 n

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of plastic floor, and more particularly a novel and improved construction ofa terrazzofloor which may be economically laid, is durable and resilient, and capable of resisting cracking when the building or foundation settles.

A further object of 'theinventionis to provide a novel and improvedmethod of mak-' ing the improved floor by which economies in both effected. I a L a With these general objects in; view, the invention consists in the floor construction and in the method of making the same hereinafter described and particularly defined in 9 the claims at the end of thiss'pecification. 1

In the drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention, F ig.; 1 is a side elevation of one of the mold forming strips used in producing the present construction 5 of floor; Fig. 2 is a similar view of oneof the cross strips used in conjunction with thestrip shown in Fig. 1 for forming the molds; and

3 is a sectional view illustrating a portion of a floor embodying the present invention. a In general the present invention contemplates the production of a plastic floor, which while adapted for installation over any type of foundation member'is particularly adapted to be laid over concrete or a similar foundation member, and vthe invention contemplates the production of a floor and preferably a floor of the typeof aterrazzo floor in which liability-of the molded terrazzo or 40 other sections of the floor becoming cracked when the building or foundation settles is reduced to a minimum. The invention also contemplates a construction of and a method of, constructing a floor by which important 5 economies in both the material comprising the molds and the labor involved in laying the floor may be secured. i H

Referring now to the drawing, which as above stated illustratesthe preferred embodi- 5 ment of the invention, the individual, molds the material andlabor costmay'be- 1931. Serial No. 520,590.

for' formi ng th individual molded blocks making up the terrazzo or other plastic floor I;

are in accordance with the present invention,

formed by two sets ofvertical mold forming *1 strips 1 and 6, and-for purposes of description f the" vertical mold, forming strips 1 will be hereinafter referred to as-the longitudinal strips and the mold forming strips 6'will be hereinafter referred to as the cross strips; As herein shown the longitudinal moldforming strips. 1 comprise sheet metal strips,preferably of zinc, brass, copper'or nickel silver, provided with a plurality ofslots or openings 1 4; for the reception of end tabs or ears 8 projecting from the opposite ends of the cross strips 6. Both strips 1 and 6 may, and prefer ably will be provided with anchoring lugs2 projecting laterally fromiopposite surfaces ofeach strip and which may convenientlybe stamped from each strip and bent outwardly into a substantially horizontal position. In laying a terrazzo or similar floor over a foundation melnber 20, I apply over the foundation a layer 22 of concrete or similar plastic, and whenthe foundation member comprises concrete or other non-flexible material, it is preferred to mcorporate fibrous material such as asbestos fiber into the concrete layer 22 to provide a more or less resil-' ient layer 22. Before the plastic layer 22 has i become hardened or set, a plurality of the longitudinal strips 1 are pressed down into the same until eachstrip projects above the surface of the layer 22 a predetermined distance, such as three-fourths ofan inch. The strips 1 are arranged in rows preferably extending across the floor', and the rows are spaced apart to correspond to the size'of the blocks or individual molded sections of the finished floor. In order to firmly anchor the strips 1 in the plastic layer 22, the bottom of the strips are provided with; anchoring means, herein shown as comprising a plural- I ity of tabs 26 projecting from opposite sides of the lower portion of the strip 1 and con-' 5 veniently the tabs 26 maybe formed: by stamping out V-shapedsections from the lower portion of the strip l to leaveja'plu- V rality of. V-shapedopenirigs 28 therein between which the tabs 26 may be formed by I i r the molds are formed by the cross strips 6 which are flexed and snapped in between adjacent rows of the strips 1 with the end tabs W i V having theirlower ends secured to said foundation member, a plurality of cross strips or ears '8 projecting through the slots a in the strips 1.

In order to prevent the absorption of; the water from the concrete or other plastic used in producing the molded blocks orsections of the floor, by the underlying plastic layer 7 22,I prefer to waterproof the bottom of'the molds,and thismay be bestaccomplished by i producing the layer of waterproofing such as fluid asphalt'over the plasticlayer 22 and before the cross strips?) have been snapped in place. In this manner such waterproofing 30 may be conveniently laid up and down the'several alleys formed by the spaced rows of the strips 1. After the waterproofing 30 has been laid, the concrete or other plastic for f forming the "molded blocks .32, such as a I known terrazzo mix, may then be poured lnto the individual molds formed by the cooper:

ating strips 1 and cross stripsG'. In order to anchor both the strips'l and 6 to the molded blocks 32, the anchoring members 2 are preferably stamped from each strip and bent outwardly in opposite directions therefrom, preferably into a substantiallyhorizontal position. I

The present construction of fioor lends 1tself particularly to the production of'any dc sired design in the finished floor, andthe individual blocks 82 may be made of any desired sizeor shape; The floor may beeconomically laid and when completed the liability of cracks forming in the molded blocks or sections 3-2 of the floor is reduced to a minimum by reason ofthe more or less resilient underlying layer 22 of plastic and the absenceof a bond between the molded-blocks 32 and the foundation. WVhile the preferred embodiment of the 1nvention has been herein illustrated and describechit will be understood that the "invention may be embodied in other forms and in other methods within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus is claimed is v i 1. In a flooring construction, in combination, a foundation member, a plurality of mold forming strips vertically arranged, said F strips being secured to said foundation member, a plurality of cross strips cooperatively associated with the aforesaid mold forming stripsandforming a plurality of individual molds therewith, plastic material filling said 1365 molds, and means for preventing bonding of said plastic material and said foundation described the invention, what member whereby the blocks formed by the T plastic material are restrained from moveassociated with said mold forming. strips and forming a plurality of individual molds therewith, plastic material filling said molds and forming individual blocks therein, means interposed between the blocks and foundation member for preventing surfacebonding whereby said blocks are fioatingly secured to said moldforming strips and said strips being constructed and arranged to permit said floating action of-the'blocks.

3. In a flooring construction, in combinac tion, a foundatlon member, a plurality of mold forming strips vertically arranged'and having their lower ends secured to said foundation member, said strips being arranged in rows spaced apart, a plurality of cross strips engagingthe aforesaid mold forming strips-and secured in place thereby and forming a plurality of individual molds'therewith, plastic material in-the form of blocks filling said molds, and means for preventing surface adhesionbetween thefoundation and the plastic material forming the blocks, said strips being resiliently constituted, whereby to permit floating movements of said blocks.

4:. In a flooring-construction,in combina t1on,"a foundation member, a plurality of mold forming strips vertically arranged and having their lower ends secured to said foundation' member, a plurality of other strips loosely connected with the aforesaid mold forming strips to besecured in place thereof blocks'filling' said moldsfand means for preventing surface adhesion between the foundation member and said plastic material forming-the blocks, the aforesaid loose connection between said strips permitting weav 1ng or floating action of the blocks.

cross strips secured to the aforesaid mold y and forming a plurality of individual molds therewith, plastic material in the form its 7 forming strips to form therewith individual molds,'plastic material inthe form of indi- ,4 V

vidual blocks filling said individual'molds, and means for preventing surface adhesion between said plastic foundation member and the molded blocks whereby theiblocks are maintained in place onlythrough the anchorage of the' moldfOIIIllIlgStIlPS, said strips being constructed and arranged so as to permit the blocks to be floatingly disposed upon the foundation member.

6. In a flooring construction, in combina tion, a foundation member, a plurality of mold forming strips vertically arranged and having their lower ends secured to said foundation member, other strips of less height thanthe aforesaid mold forming strips secured to the foundation member through the medium only of said mold. forming strips, means for preventin surface adhesion ofthe molded blocks to t e foundation member,

said strips being constructed and arranged whereby to permit the blocks to be floatingly disposed upon the foundation member.

7. In a flooring construction, in combination, a plastic foundation member, a plurality of mold forming strips embedded and anchored in said foundation member and projecting vertically above the same, a plurality of cross strips cooperatin with the aforesaid mold forming strips to orm a plurality of individual molds, plastic material filling the molds, and means for preventing bonding of the plastic material to the foundation member, said mold forming and cross strips being constructed and arranged whereby to permit floating movements of the plastic material retained thereby and provided with means for securing the molded plastic material to said strips.

8. In a flooring construction, in combination, a foundation member, a plurality of separate molded blocks of plastic material, metal spacing strips separating the individ' ual molded blocks and to which said blocks are secured, means for securing said spacing strips to the foundation, and means for preventing surface adhesion between said blocks and the foundation member and said strips being so constituted whereby said blocks are floatingly disposed upon the foundation mem- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JESSE R. BOWMAN. 

